'Shahrizat warned me not to be a traitor'

TELUK INTAN Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil warned DAP’s Teluk Intan by-election candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud not to become a traitor while shaking the latter’s hands at the nomination centre in Teluk Intan this morning.

Dyana told reporters after a walkabout today that Shahrizat (centre in photo) warned her not to become a “traitor”, in reminding of the fact that Dyana was an Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) graduate.

But Dyana brushed off the warning, saying that she felt “zen” (peaceful) about the whole incident, and told Shahrizat she would not become a traitor.

“I take it as good advice. I would never become a traitor for Malaysia, don’t worry,” Dyana said.

She also said that she did not understand why someone’s university should become a benchmark for the choice of political parties.

“UiTM is also built with taxpayers’ money,” she said.

'Attacks on mother unfair'

Dyana, 27, also said that it is not fair for her mother, Yammy Samat, to be subjected to attacks due to her candidature.

"I don't think it is fair. But she can take these attacks better than me. She has been in politics since she was 19," Dyana said.

She added there is no need for her to call for the closure of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) because "it is open to all Malaysians."

Meanwhile, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang (far left), who accompanied Dyana in a walkabout at the Glutton Square hawker centre at the city centre today, said that DAP's chances of winning the by-election was only 40 percent.

"I am worried that the Chinese might not vote for her. But we are taking a risk, because we feel it is time that Malaysia moves beyond the racial barrier," he said.

He said that DAP would work hard to ensure that it had at least a 50 percent chance of winning before the elections on May 31.